Cessna 210J accident near Naples, Florida, February 6, 1999
On February 6, 1999 at about 2:56 am local time, a Cessna 210J, registered N6174F, was destroyed in an accident near Naples, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In-flight collision with water while on base turn to final at night for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1999 · about 2:56 am local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210J · all 210Js on the register
- Registration
- N6174F · no longer on the register · serial 21059074
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot contacted the tower for landing instructions 10 miles southwest of the airport. The pilot was instructed to report a 2 mile final for runway 05, and was informed to follow traffic on a midfield downwind. The pilot stated he was looking for the traffic, and asked if the traffic was over the coast. The pilot was informed the traffic was midfield base passing the tower at his 1 o'clock position. The pilot acknowledged the call and asked if he should take a left turn. The controller instructed the pilot to turn left and stated his traffic was passing from right to left at about a mile. The controller then informed the pilot to turn base, and asked if he had the traffic. The pilot stated he saw something below and asked if he had any helicopter traffic below him. The controller stated no and informed the pilot his traffic was on a right base at his 2 o'clock position. The pilot informed the controller that he did not see the traffic, and stated he needed to turn right pretty quick. The pilot was given the position of the traffic and was cleared to land. The pilot asked the controller to repeat that please. The controller informed the pilot that he was extremely low and asked if he had the traffic in sight There was no other conversation between the pilot and the controller. The airplane continued to descend out of sight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 176 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1999; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X01 Everglades City FL at 2:40 am
- Destination: APF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 am from APF, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.